Traffic-directing signal for vehicles.



c. s ms. TRAFFIQ DIRECTING SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR.29 1 1981.

1,239,093, a Patntedse u 4, 1917.

RLEW W ,7

' UNITED STATES nun-um CHARLES G. ETTE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TBAFFIG-DIREGTING SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

Application filed March 29, 1817. Serial No. 158,200.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that I, Cnmmns G. E'rrn, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new 5 anduseful Improvement in Traiiic-Directing Signals for Vehicles, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as willenable oilfers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to signaling dev ces of the kind that are used onauton'iohilcs and other vehicles for indicating :11 proposed change inthe dirrtion of travel of the vehicle. I

The main object of the invention is to provide a manually-operablesignaling device of the kind described that efficient, inexpensive tomanufacture and easy to operate.

Another object is to provide a signaling dcvicethat can be installedeasily and which is rugged and substantial enough to successfullywithstand rough usage and execssivc vibration. Other objects anddesirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointed out.

To this end I have devised a signaling device which consists of a hollowsignaling member, preferably of: tubular form. provided with words,symbols or charm-tors arranged in such a manner that similar words orsymbols on said member can be seen from the front and from the rear ofsaid memher when it is in its signaling position, a manually-operablemeans for moving said signaling member into and out of operativeposition and also turning said member axi ally so as to display theproper word or symbol that denotes the proposed change in the directionof travel of the vehicle and means for illuminating the words or symbolson the signaling member at night.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a rear eleva tional view of a signalingdevice constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of same.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational; 'view, partly broken a'way showing thesignaling member arranged in its inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is a detail View, taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2, looking in thedirection indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a detail View, taken on theilme 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking in thedirection indic ated by the arrows.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of myinvention, A designates a hollow signaling member, B designates abracket or supporting element arranged on some, part of the vehicle onWhich the device is used and C designates a manually-operable actuatingdevice that is combined with the signaling member A in such a mannerthat it can be actuated to move said signaling member into and out ofsignaling position and also to turn said signaling member axially, so asto display the words or synilimls on same. which denote the proposedchmge in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The supporting bracketB carries the signaling member A and the actuating device C and it isarranged in such a position that the actuating device can be gras edeasily by the o In the form 0, myi vent-ion herein shown the supportingbracketis so constructed and arranged that the signaling member A willstand in a vertical position at one side of the vehicle. as shown inFig. 3, when said signaling member is inoperative and will occupy ahorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, when it is operative or insignaling 1 osition. I do not wish it to be under- .stooi, however, thatmy invention is limited to a signaling device in lliCll a signalinmember occupies the imsitions mentione when it is inoperative andoperative for it is immaterial how the signaling member is combined withthe supporting element and with the actuating device, so long as saidparts are combined insuch a manner that the signaling member can bemoved into such a. position that it can be seen from the front and fromthe rear of the'vehicle when the driver of the vehicle desires to notifypersons located in front of and at the rear of the vehicle that thevehicle will make a turn to the right or to the left.

If the signalin member A is square or rectangular shape in crosssection, as herein shown, the two oppositelydisposed sides 1 and l. ofsame will be provided with similar .Words or symbols, such, for example,as the word Left. and the other oppositelydisposed sides 2 and 2 of saidmember will be provided with similar words or symbols, different. howew-r, from the words or symhols on the sides 1 and l; for example, theword FRight. The member A has two signaling positions, in one of whichthe word Left on the rear side 1 of said memher is displayed to view andthe word orator in charge of the vehicle.-

Left on the front side 1 of said memher is displayed to view, and in theother position the word Right on the rear side 2 and on the front side 2of said member are displayed to view. If desired, each of the sides Iand 2 of the member A can be provided with the additional word Stop, soas to give warning to the occupants of a following vehicle'that thevehicle on which the device is used is either going to stop or turn tothe right or to the left. It is, of course, immaterial whether thesignaling member A is provided with words or provided with symbols,such, for example, as arrows, so long as said member is constructed insuch a manner that it will indicate proposed changes in the direction oftravel of the vehicle or in the method of operating the vehicle.Furthermore, while I prefer to use a signaling member that is square orrectangular-shaped in cross section, this is not essential, so long assaid member is of substantially tubular form. In practice I prefer toform the member A from sheet material, preferably thin sheet metal, andcut the words or symbols in the sides of same, the ut'out portions ofthe member A havingpieces of white transparent material arranged oversame, so that the words or symbols will show plainly during the day andalso at night if an illuminating device, such, for example, as an elec'tric light bulb l) is arranged inside of the member A. as shown in Fig.3.

The member A is provided at one end with a shank 3 that is oscillatinglymounted in a bearing 1 that is pivotally connected to the supportingbracket B, said bearing 4: having a stud 1* that turns freely in ahearing 5 on the supporting bracket B, as shown in Fig. 2. The endportion of said stud 4 is screw-threaded and a nut 6 is arranged onsame, so as. to retain the bearing 4 in operative position on thesupporting bracket B. In the form of my invention herein shown the shank3 of the signaling member A is formed by a tubular-shaped memberprovided at one end with a head piece 3 to which the signaling member Ais connected by screws 7 or in any other suitable manner, the socket orreceptacle 8 for the electric light bulb D being arranged in saidtubular-shaped member 3, as shown in Fig. 3. The opposite end portion ofthe tubularshaped portion 3 is securely connected to a shaft 9 thatturns in the bearing 4, and said shaftis provided at its free end Withan angularly-disposed arm 10 that is equipped with a shoulder. 10 whichbears a ainst one side.of the bearing 4. In assem lin the parts of thedevicethe shaft 9 is first slipped into the bearing 4, and thereafter,the tubular-shaped shank portion 3v of the signaling member is slippedover the end of said shaft into engagement with the opposite side of thebearing t and secured to said shaft by a cross pin 11 or in any othersuitable manner. a

The manually-operable actuating device C previously referred topreferably consists of .1 plunger that is reciprocatingly mounted in abearing 1.2 on the supporting bracket 1 the inner end of said plungerbeing connccted by means of a rigid link 13 to the angularly -disposedarm 10 on the shank of the signaling member A. When the plunger C ismoved to the right, looking at Fig. 3, the signaling member A will beswung upwardly into a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, and whensaid plunger is moved in the opposite direction, or to the left, saidsignaling member will be swung downwardly into a substantially verticalposition at one side of the body of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 3. Thelink 13 is pivotally connected to the plun or C and to the arm 10 andsaid link is pre erably formed in such a manner that it will straddlethe end of the plunger and the arm 10, and thus form a rigid connectionbetween said elements that will turn the si paling member A axially whenthe actuating plunger C is turned in its bearing 12. In the form of myinvention herein shown the link 13 consists of a casting which isprovided at one end with a hollow or cut-out portion that receives thearm 10 on the shank of the signaling memher A when said member isarranged in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 3.

When the signaling member A is being moved into and out of signalingposition, the actuating plunger C- is prevented from turning in itsbearing 12 by means of a rib 1% on said plunger that fits in a groove 15(see Fig. 5) on the inside of the bearing 12, said rib and groove alsoacting to prevent the plunger C from turning in its hearing when thesignaling member is arranged in its inoperative position shown in Fig.3. When the plunger C is moved to the right, to render the signalingmember A operative, the rib 14 on said plunger will pass out of thegroove 15 when the signaling member A reaches a horizontal position.Thereafter, the plunger C can be turned forwardly in its bearing 12, soas to display the word Right on the sides 2 and 2 of the signalingmember, or said plunger 0 can be turned rearwardly in its bearing, so asto display the "word Left on the sides 1 and 1 of the signaling member.After the plunger C has been turned forwardly or rearwardlyin the mannerdescribed it is held s urely locked in its extreme outward positi by theengagement of the rib 14 with the end of the bearing 12. In other words,rotary movement of the plunger C either forwardly. or rearwardly causesthe rib 14 thereon to be moved out of alinement with the groove 15 inthe bearing 12, thereby preventing the plunger from being returned toits former position until the rib 14: is again brought into alinementwith the V signaling member groove 15. In order to limit the rotarymovement of the actuating plunger C, I have cut away the end portion ofthe tubular shank 3 of the signaling member at 16, as shown in Fig. 2,so as to form a stop 17 on the shank of the signaling member thatstrikes against. the bearing 5 on the sup porting bracket when theactuating plunger 0 is turned forwardly a certain distance or is turnedrearwardly a certain distance,thus overcoming the necessity of theoperator using any care or' thought during the operation of turning theplunger C, so as to display the word or symbol on the signaling member Athat denotes the direction in which the vehicle is to be turned. WVhenthe actuating plunger C is moved tothe left, so as to restore thesignaling member A to its inoperative position, a gravity pawl 18 ansaid plunger rides up an incline 19 on the bearing 12 and then dropsinto looking engagement with the end of said incline, as shown in Fig.3, thereby securely locking the plunger and consequently preventing thesignaling member from swinging and striking against the side of the bodyof the vehicle.

The electric wires 20 that energize the electric light bulb D arepreferably connected to a plug 21 or other suitable connecting devicethat can be inserted in a socket 22 connected with the lighting circuitof the vehicle at night, and a switch is provided for closing thecircuit in which the light bulb D is arranged when the signaling memberA is moved into its signaling position and to break or open said circuitwhen said signaling member is restored to its inoperative position. Anysuitable type of switch may be used for this purpose, but the switchthat I prefer to use comprises a'bifurcated spring contact 23 carried byan insulating member 24 on the supporting bracket B, and a knife bladecontact member 25 carried by an insulating member 26 on the shaft 4 andarranged in such a manner that it moves into engagement with. thecontact 23 when the signaling member swings upwardly into its signal ingposition and moves out of engagement with said contact when saidsignaling mem ber moves back to its inoperative position.

Normally, the signaling member A stands in the position shown in Fig. 3.If the operntor in charge of the vehicle intends to make a turn to theleft. he grasps the handle 27 on the plunger C and mo s said plunger tothe right, thereby caus ng the A to be moved upwardly into a horizontalposition. After the plunger C has been moved into its extreme outwardposition it is given a slight rearward turn, so as to display the wordLeft on the two oppositely-disposed sides of the signaling member A.After the change in the direction of travel of the vehicle is made theoperator restores the signaling member A to its inoperative position byfirst turning the plunger G forwardly far enough to bring the rib 14 onsame into alinement with its cooperative groove 15 and then pushing saidplunger to the left. If the vehicle is to be turned to the rightftheoperator moves the plunger 0 to its extreme outward position, and thenrotates it forwardly so as to display the word Right on the signalingmember.

\Vhile I prefer to construct the device in the manner hereinillustrated, I do not wish it to be understood that my invention islimited to a signaling device provided with the exact means previouslydescribed for moving the signaling member into and out of operativeposition, for various other means could be used for controlling thesignaling member without departing from the spirit of my invention.Furthermore, the signaling member can be so arranged that it eitherstands at one side of the body of the vehicle or occupies a positionwithin the marginal limits of the body of the vehicle when it is in itsinoperative position.

Havin thus described my invention, what I c aim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is:

1. A traiiic directing signal for vehicles, comprising a signalingmember of substantially tubular form provided with words or symbolsarranged in such a manner that similar Words or symbols are displayed onthe front 'and rear sides of-said member when it is arranged insignaling position, a supporting structure on which said signalingmember is pivotally mounted, and a manually-operable means for swingingsaid member into and out of signaling position and also turning itaxially for the purpose described. v

2. A traific directing signal for vehicles, comprising a signalingmember of substantially tubular form, a supporting element, amanually-operable plunger on said supporting element, and a'connectionbetween said plunger and signaling member for causing said member tomove into a certain position and turn axially when said plunger isreciprocated and rotated.

3. A trafiic directing .signal for vehicles, comprising a signalingmember of substantially tubular form, a supporting element, a shank onsaid signaling member pivotally connected to said supporting element androtatably mounted on the same, and a manually-operable actuating deviceon said sup porting element operatively connected with said shank.

4. A trafiic directing signal for vehicles,

comprising a signaling member of substantially tubular form, asupporting element, a shank on said signaling member, a pivotallymounted bearing in said supporting element in which said shank isoscillatingly mounted, an actuating device carried by said sup portingelement, and a link connecting said actuatingdevice With said shank.

5. A. trafiic directing signal for vehicles, comprising a signalingmember of substantially tubular term, a supporting element a thatcarries said member, a reciprooatingly mounted actuating device for saidsignaling member carried by said supporting element and arranged in sucha manner that it can be turned or rotated axially, and means for lockingsaid actuating device automatically when it is manipulated to arrangesaid signaling member in operative position.

6. A traflic directing signal for vehicles, comprising a signalingmember of substantially tubular form, a supporting element, a pivotallymounted bearing on said supportiug element, a shank on said signalingmember oscillatingly mounted in said bearing and provided at one endwith an angularlydisposed arm, an actuating plunger reeipro catinglymounted in said supporting element, and a link connected to said arm andto saidactuatin plunger.

17. A trafiic directing signal for vehicles, comprisin @asignalingmember of substantially tubu ar form, a supporting element, a pivotallymounted bearing on said supportmg element o; shank on said signaling mem-ber oscilla "-gly mounted in said bearing and provid I at one end withan angularlydisposed arm; an actuatin plunger reciprocatinglyw; messed 1in said supporting elen i a 7 ,k connected to said arm and tojrsaidgactuatiilg plunger, airib on said actuating plum er that fits ina groove in said supj porting eement, and means for locking saidactuating plunger when the signaling member is arrarflged in itsinoperative position.

8 tra c directing signal for vehicles, .com rising a pivotall mountedsignaling memiher of substantially-tubular form, an actuating devicethat is adapted to be reciprocated longitudinally to move said sigrialing member into signaling position and thereafter rotate it so as toturn said ligialing member axially, and means for limiting. the turningmovement of said actuating device in 0 osite directions.

9. A tra c directing signal for vehicles. comprising a supportingelement provided with a stationary bearing and a pivotally mountedbearing, an actuating plunger rc cipro atingly mounted in said sationary bearing, a signaling member of substantially tubular formprovlded With a shank that is oscillatingly mounted in said pivotallymounted bearing, and a rigid link pivotally connected to said plungerand to an angularly-disposed arm on said shank.

10. A traffic directing signal for vehicles, comprising a supportingelement provided with a stationaryobearing and a pivotally mountedbearing, an. actuating plunger re-- ciprocatingly mounted. in saidstationary bearing, a signaling member of substantially tubular formprovided with a shank that is oscillatin ly mounted in said pivotallymounted )earing, rigid link pivotally connected to said plunger and toan angularly disposed arm on said shank, a rib on said plunge-r thatfits in a groove in said rigid. )earing when said plunger is in certainpositions, and a grai'ity operated pawl on said plunger that cooperateswith said hearing to lock the signaling *nemher in its inoperativeposition.

11. A trafiic directing signal for eh cles, comprising a supportingelement provided with a rigid bearing and a pivotally 1nonnt ed bearing,an actuating plun er reciprocatingly mounted in said rigid bearing, ashaft in said pivotally mounted bearing provided with a shoulder thatbears against one end of same, an angularly-disposed arm on said shaft,a rigid link connected to said arm and to said plunger, and a signalingmember having a substantially tubular-- shaped shank connected. to saidshaft and arranged so that it abuts the opposite end of said pivotallymounted bearing:

12. A traflie directing signal for vehicles, comprising a supportingbracket provided with a rigid bearing and a pivotally mounted bearing, asignaling member ofsubstantially tubular form formed from sheet material and having Words or symbols cut in th sides of same, anilluminating device or ranggfi inside of said member, a shank onsaidmember oscillatingly mounted in said pivotally mounted bearing andprovided with an angularl v-disposed arm. an actuatiii plunger in thestationary bearing on SHld supporting element a. rigid link connectingsaid arm to said plunger. and a 'teh for controlling the circuit inwhich said illuminating device is arranged.

' CHARLES G. ETTE.

